For decades, the Almajiri system has remained one of Northern Nigeria’s most debated social and educational challenges. While opinions differ on how best to address the issue, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang believes the solution lies in one word: education.
The governor made this position clear while speaking in Demsa, Adamawa State, during the 70th birthday celebration of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, and the unveiling of a library and administrative blocks at the Lutheran University of Nigeria.
At the event, which brought together political leaders, church officials and education stakeholders, Mutfwang argued that Northern Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful economic and human development without confronting the challenges associated with the Almajiri system.
According to the governor, the Almajiri system has become a major obstacle to the development of human capital in Northern Nigeria.
“To address the Almajiri system, it must take the commitment of Northern leaders to promote education and tackle the Almajiri problem, which is against economic and human development,” he said.
His comments reflect growing concerns among policymakers and development experts who believe that millions of children remain outside the formal education system, limiting their future opportunities and the region’s broader development prospects.
For Mutfwang, education is more than classroom learning. It is a pathway to peace, economic prosperity and social transformation. He argued that communities thrive when citizens have access to quality education, noting that education creates opportunities, reduces poverty and promotes stability.
His remarks echoed a broader belief that investments in schools, learning facilities and human capital remain among the most effective strategies for addressing long-term social challenges.
The governor also highlighted the contribution of churches to educational development in Nigeria. Recalling the legacy of Nigeria’s late Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Mutfwang noted that faith-based institutions have historically played important roles in expanding access to education and supporting community development.
“Late Tafawa Balewa established a church because he knew that the church propagated education, and through education, society thrives, peace and economic development take place in communities,” he said.
His remarks came during the unveiling of facilities at the Lutheran University of Nigeria, an institution established by the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN).
A major highlight of the event was the commissioning of a library and administrative blocks donated by former SGF Boss Mustapha. Mutfwang described the gesture as evidence of Mustapha’s commitment to education and national development.
He noted that the Lutheran Church had become the third member of the TEKAN bloc to establish a university, describing the development as proof of the church’s belief in education as a driver of peace and societal progress.
“This is a confirmation that the church believes in knowledge for development and peace in society,” he said.
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, who also spoke at the event, reinforced the argument that education remains one of the most powerful weapons against poverty and insecurity. According to him, investments in schools and human capital yield greater long-term benefits than reactive approaches to social problems.
“Poverty and insecurity can best be defeated with the weapon of education and not bullets,” Fintiri said.
He commended Mustapha for choosing to invest his resources in educational infrastructure rather than personal projects, urging other successful Nigerians to emulate the example.
Beyond the celebration of a milestone birthday, the event became a platform for a wider conversation about education, leadership and development. For Mutfwang, the message was clear: addressing the Almajiri challenge requires deliberate investment in education and a commitment from leaders to create opportunities for young people.
His argument reflects a growing consensus that sustainable solutions to poverty, insecurity and underdevelopment begin with learning.
In that sense, the library and administrative blocks unveiled in Demsa were more than physical structures. They served as symbols of a broader belief shared by many speakers at the event—that education remains one of the strongest foundations for building peaceful, prosperous and inclusive societies.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.